Stormy seas for Wells Chamber

Jim Kanak

Thursday

Jun 28, 2007 at 2:00 AM

WELLS — Changes are apparently brewing at the Wells Chamber of Commerce these days. Long-time chamber member Brent Marriner recently circulated a letter challenging some proposed personnel changes, including the hiring of an executive director and changes in other positions and job responsibilities, including those of Marriner himself. The chamber Board of Directors did all of this, the letter asserts, in a series of "secret meetings."

WELLS — Changes are apparently brewing at the Wells Chamber of Commerce these days. Long-time chamber member Brent Marriner recently circulated a letter challenging some proposed personnel changes, including the hiring of an executive director and changes in other positions and job responsibilities, including those of Marriner himself. The chamber Board of Directors did all of this, the letter asserts, in a series of "secret meetings."

"The current board of directors wants to make some changes, not that that's bad," Marriner said. "The method and timing couldn't be worse."

According to Marriner's letter, the board eliminated the position of Sandee Marriner, Brent's wife and the Office Manager/Secretary, told staffer Rasa Briggs that "her services were no longer needed," and informed staffer Marcia Little that her services would be terminated. Brent said he learned his duties as Advertising Sales Representative would be assumed by the new executive director by reading it in the newspaper. "The directors have eliminated Sandee's position and chose not to renew my contract," Marriner said.

Chamber President Will Bradford challenged Marriner's allegations. "For the last decade or so, the board has discussed bringing on an executive director," said Bradford. "Most other chambers have one. Wells has been outdated in that respect.

"Part of the letter is not true. Rasa was not let go. We never heard back from her regarding her contract. Brent is the same way. We may try to move some sales in house. He wanted the contract he always had or nothing. I hope with a new executive director we can all sit down and work something out."

Bradford said also that Sandee Marriner had not been let go. He drew a subtle distinction about what had happened. "Sandee has not been let go," he said. "We weren't sure what would happen with her position once the new executive director arrived. There's a difference between firing her and eliminating her position, if you understand what I mean. The Office Manager will no longer run the office. I would love to see Sandee stay involved but probably with a different role."

Marriner disagreed. "That's not the impression [Sandee] got," he said. "It's also not Rasa's understanding of her situation. I didn't hear from the board [about my contract] until May 1 when I brought it up. They presented me with a contract that excludes me completely from two of six [activities I do].

"Other changes resulted in asking me to take a 60 percent cut in pay. I came back with a proposal. The last contact was a week ago at the meeting where they told Sandee her position was being eliminated and that I would hear from the new executive director."

Bradford said the reason for the changes was financial. "Basically, all this is happening because at the moment we're paying over 50 percent of the chamber's gross budget for salaries," he said. "That's a high ratio for a business. We've had declining membership and no growth in advertising revenue. There have been rumors from the town that money is tight and people have been questioning the chamber's budget. We've got to be more fiscally responsible. We offered Brent a 50 percent commission on new ad sales. He can't live on residuals [alone]."

Marriner also questioned the timing of the changes. "It's atrocious," he said. "This is the kind of thing you do in the dead of winter. I don't know who's in charge or if our events are still planned."

One upshot of the moves, Marriner said, is that Moe Steele resigned from the chamber. Steele has coordinated many of the chamber's events over the years. "He resigned in disgust," said Marriner. "The [events team] was Sandee and myself. We're there 20 to 30 hours a weekend when there's an event."

Bradford said the schedule of events would go forward under the new executive director. He stressed that the changes were necessary. "With everything going on, the board had no choice but to make sure things are more fiscally responsible," Bradford said. "We've got to make changes. That's why we want an executive director. Other chambers have a director that does what Brent and Sandee do combined. We'd be saving money with one salary."

Marriner's letter urges chamber members to come to the next board meeting, which is scheduled for July 5. "I've had probably 20 or 25 calls asking what's going on," he said. "I tell people to show up at the meeting or send emails expressing their feelings. I've been involved with the chamber since 1973. I hate to see a lot of hard work go down the tubes."

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